Bridgewater Retirement Community sits at 302 N 2nd St in Bridgewater, VA, right in the Shenandoah Valley, and covers about 46 level acres, so getting around is a bit easier for folks with different mobility needs, and since it's been around since 1965, a lot of people in the region know about it, and what's interesting about the place is how it's not-for-profit, and Jeffrey Lambert is the on-site administrator, and the community uses its own special names for things like the Bridgewater Home, Inc., which provides skilled nursing care for people who really need that level of help, but there's also independent living options where people can be as independent as possible but still get some support if needed, and when daily tasks get harder, the assisted living services help with things like dressing, bathing, and meals, plus if you need help with medication or things like diabetes or incontinence care, there are services for that too.
The place has memory support services and nursing households for folks who've started needing more hands-on care, and one nice thing is that residents get priority access if their needs change, so they don't have to leave their home for different care, and if couples come in together, the community tries to keep them together so they can stay near each other's side, and there are private and semi-private rooms available, with over 40 apartment and cottage styles ranging from one to four bedrooms, and people can bring in their own furniture and decorations, so the spaces start to feel like their own over time, and it's pet-friendly for folks who want to have an animal around for companionship, though there's a note that no pets are allowed as of now, so maybe that changed recently.
Residents at Bridgewater Retirement Community find a lot to do, with a full calendar of activities and regular outings, things like choir groups, bell chimes, gardening, arts and crafts, movies, games, Bible studies, and discussion groups, and there are organized shopping excursions and day trips for anybody who wants to see more of the area, and all through the year, there are social, recreational, and educational opportunities happening on campus, which has indoor and outdoor common areas, walking trails, gardens, patios, and a community center, along with a fitness center, an art studio, a fully-equipped gym, a rehab gym, beauty and barber shops, and even a salon, which is good for keeping routines that matter to people.
People eat meals made with good ingredients in the community dining venues, and if they want, they can pay for housekeeping services, which makes keeping things tidy a bit easier, and for healthcare, there's specialized services for folks who need more support, including 24-hour on-site nursing, medication management, and even oxygen service available, with access to rehab if it's needed; there's a pharmacy and credit union on-site, which can save some trips into town, and transportation is available for shopping or medical appointments, and as for yard work, the community takes care of lawn care, landscaping, and snow removal, which is a load off for people who don't want to mess with that any longer.
The Bridgewater Retirement Community has a foundation in diversity and inclusion, and the area has legal protections for LGBTQ individuals, so residents come from all walks of life, and the staff is trained to respect people's rights and differences, and with the continuum of care model, the community supports people as their needs change over time, so there's a sense of stability here, and the atmosphere feels active and welcoming, with support available close by even as people are encouraged to stay as independent as possible for as long as they want. More information can be found at www.brcliving.org.
